Electrically-operated station-indicator



P. H. WALLER.

ELECTRICALLY .OPERATED STATION INDICATOR.

APPLlCATlON FILED NOV. l0, I9I9.

Patented Jan. 11, 1921.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

P. H. WALLER.

ELECTRICALLY OPERATED STATION INDICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED NOV-10. I919. 1,364,905, Patented Jan. 11, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PAUL HENRY WALLER, 0F OAMBERVVELL, LONDON, ENGLAEN'D.

ELECTRICALLY-OPERATED STATION-INDICATOR.

I Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 11, 1921.

Application filed November 10, 1919. Serial No. 336,973.

lating to' Electrically-Operated StationIndicators; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention is for improvements in ap-.

paratus for exhibiting notices and the like and has for its object to provide an auto-.

matic device whereby a series of notices can be exhibited in succession.

According to this invention there is provided in an automatic indicator of this type the combination with a step-by-step device whereof each operation exhibits one notice, of means whereby a predetermined notice or notices may be prevented from being exhibited, and the operation of the step-bystep device which would normally exhibit it or them is caused to exhibit the next succeeding notice not thus canceled.

According to another feature of the invention the apparatus also comprises means whereby in place of each notice predetermined for cancellation, an alternative notice is exhibited, such notice preferably being exhibited during the exhibition of the whole series.

In the preferred construction the apparatus is electrically operated and comprises a switch automatically actuated to make contact with a series of contacts successively, one contact beingallocated to each notice to be exhibited, and a series of manually-controlled switches one in the circuit. of each contact, adjustable to connect its contact either to the circuit of the notice to which it is allocated or to the next succeeding contact.

The exhibition of the alternative notice is effected by means of auxiliary switches movable with the above-mentioned manuallycontrolled switches;

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a diagram showing theyarrangement of switches, and wiring used in the "indicator. Fig. 2 is a front view of an indicator used in carrying out this invention.

In the drawings Figs.'i'l and-2 show an indicator arrangedfor five stations labeled esp ti,el3 A B C77 D77 E777 as shown in Fig; 2 the apparatus indicates either the next station or that the train is not stopping at any particular station. Conveniently these notices are exhibited by being mounted on translucent screens, and a lamp or lamps areswitched in or out of circuit according as the notice is to be exhibited or not." Q

- It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular notice illustrated but that any desired notice or any desired number of notices may be exhibited in a similar way.

Referring now to Fig. 1, the apparatus for controlling the indicator comprises a rotatable switch K arranged'to sweep over a series of contacts A B C D E. This switch K is actuated to move forward from any contact to the next succeeding one in a step-bystep movement by any desired type of mechanism. Thus it may be mechanically actuated by a ramp or other device on the track, working through a ratchet and pawl, or it may be electrically actuated by a circuit c011- trolled, either opened or closed, by a device on the track, the general result being that the switch K is moved forward one step by the passage of the train from one station to the next.

Each of the contacts is connected to a manually-controlled switch A B C D E respectively, and these switches normally engage contacts A B C D E which are in turn connected to lamps A B C D E.

These lamps are arranged behind the notices which normally are exhibited in succession, that is to say, in Fig. 2 behind the notice marked Next station. The other poles of the lamps are all connected together and to one of the electric mains L, the other main M being connected to the switch K by any suitable rubbing contact, a

When the manually-controlled switches are all in their normal position, it will be seen that a circuit is completed from M through the switch-arm K, through one of the contacts in the series A B C D E, through the corresponding manually-controlled switch and the corresponding lamp back to the other main L; the lamp is thus illuminated and the particular sign is exhibited.

If the train is required to stop at every station, the apparatus thus far described would when correctly adjusted, exhibit each notice in succession, that is to say on leaving say station A, a notice would be exhibited that B is the next station. Similarly on leaving B the switch-arm K would be moved on to the contact C and the notice for station B would cease to be illuminated and the notice to the effect that C is the next station would be illuminated.

It is necessary however to provide for the train missing some stations, that to say on leaving station B it will be required to show that D is the next station. and to indicate that the train does not stop at C. In order to accomplish this each of the manually controlled switches is provided with auxiliary contacts as shown at C and C,

and the switch C is adjustable to engage either of the three contacts C C C. The contact C is connected tothe switch member or the blade of the next succeeding switch D and the contact is similarly connected to the next previous switch B The use of these contacts is as followsz-- Assuming that the train is traveling from A toward E and that it is not to stop at station C, the switch C is moved on to the contact C. On leaving the station B the switch K is moved on to the contact C and the circuit is completed through C C U D D and the lamp D thereby exhibiting the notice that D is the next station, and preventing the notice G Next station from being exhibited. lVhen the train passes station C, the switch K is moved on to the contact D and the circuit is completed through D D D D* so that the notice remains unchanged until the station D is reached.

In addition to preventing the exhibition of a notice, it is desirable to exhibit a definite notice to the ellect that the train does not stop at any particular station and ac. cording to another feature of the invention, this is effected by a series of auxiliary switches A B 0' D E These switches are preferably mechanically interconnected with the manually-controlled switches A and they are provided with two contacts C C, these contacts being spaced sufficiently far apart to allow the switch blade C to lie in between them without making contact with either. The contacts C C are so disposed that when the manually-controlled switch C is in its normal position, that is to say, in contact with C then the auxiliary switch C is lying between the contacts C and C and does not complete any circuit.

hen however, the switch C is moved to engage either of the contacts G C", then the switch C- is moved with it to engage one or other of the contacts C C". The pairs of contacts C C for each ot the auxiliary switches are connected together and to one of the series of lampsA 13 C D E and these lamps are used to illuminate the notice shown in Fig. 2 Not stopping at. The other poles of these lamps are all connected together to the main L and the switch-arms A B C D E are similarly all connected to the main M. It will be seen, therefore, that when these switches are each in their central position no circuit is completed, but when moved in either direction by the operat-ion of one of "the manually-controlled switches, a circuit is completed from the main M through one oi the lamps A B C D E illuminating the respective no tices.

\Vhen the train is due to commence its journey from A and it is to miss certain stations, say C on the journey, the switch is moved upward to make contact with C as described above. The switch C is thereby moved on to the contact C and the notice-C is illuminated. There't'orc from the beginnig of: the journey there is a notice shown to the effect that the train is Not stopping at G. The switch K operates in the mannerabove described indicating the next stationin turn, until leaving B when it indicates that the next station is D as above described. It will be seen, therefore, that the apparatus is automatic after the manually-controlled switches have been adjusted at the beginning of the journey.

In order to provide for the return journey from E to A without reversing the operation of the step-by-step switch K, additional contacts (Z c b are provided, so that the switch K on leaving contact E (on the return journey of the train) is by the normal operation moved onto the contact (P. This contact is connected to the contact D so that the circuit for exhibiting the notice is the same as previously described. In order to provide for missing stations on the return journey, the second set of contacts as at C are provided for the manually-controlled switches A B C D E these contacts being connected to the next previous switch as above described. On the return journey, therefore, if any station say C, is to be passed, the corresponding manuallyoperated switch C is moved to its lower position making contact with C When the switch K makes contact with 0 the circuit is completed therefrom through 0 C C B B B thereby exhibiting the notice that B is the next station. This operation of the switch C has simultaneously moved the switch C on to the contact C to exhibit the notice that thetrain is not stopping at C, and this notice is, as before, exhibited throughout the whole journey.

In order to provide for the train not making a full journey from A to E but say, stopping at C and then returning to A, any convenient means may be provided for manually operatingthe switch K in the series of steps. When the train stops at C, with the switch K on the contact C all that is required is that before it commences its return journey, the switch K should be moved around to the contact 0 this it will be noted is the position which the switch would normally occupy at that station on the return ourney.

It will be appreciated that any number of notices may be controlled by a single set of switches, so that the one apparatus on a train could control a series of notices dis tributed throughout the train. Also it will be appreciated that any desired type of switch may be used, together with any desired type of indicator and that the notices may be exhibited in other ways than by illuminating them, if so desired, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

l/Vhat I claim as my to secure by Letters atent is 1. In an indicator, a series of notices, electric circuits provided with a switch provided with a series of contacts and operating to exhibit the said notices automatically and one after another in regular order, and manually controlled switches included in the said circuits, each manually controlled switch operating to open thecircuit to which it pertains and connect it withone of the other circuits.

invention and desire 2. In an indicator, a series of notices, electric circuits provided with a switch provided with a series of contacts and operating to exhibit the said notices automatically and one after another in regular order, and manually controlled switches included in the said circuits, each manually controlled switch operating to open the circuit of the notice to which it pertains and connect it with either of the circuits pertaining to the notices next before and next after it in the series.

3. In an indicator, a series of notices, electric circuits provided with a main switch provided with a series of contacts and operating to exhibit the said notices automatically and one after another in regular order, manually controlled switches included in the said circuits, each manually controlled switch operating to open the circuit of the notice to which it pertains and connect it with one of the other circuits, a series of alternative notices, electric circuits operating to exhibit the alternative notices, and manually operated switches for opening and closing the circuits of the alternative notices.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my' signature, in presence of two witnesses.

PAUL HENRY WALLER. lVitnesses:

ARTHUR JAMES HALL, WILLIAM WASH. 

